Editors have vowed to keep fighting for all journalists to attend Conservative Party’s annual conference for free after regional press reporters were exempted from its controversial charge.

The Tories confirmed last month the planned charge will be waived for local newspapers and broadcasters attending the event in Manchester “owing to the challenging financial situation many local outlets face”.

However, other outlets are still facing a fee of £137 for each journalist’s application.

The charge prompted industry organisations including the News Media Association, Society of Editors, News Media Coalition and Foreign Press Association to join forces to threaten to boycott the event unless it was dropped.

In the wake of the exemption for regional press titles being made public, the SoE has now confirmed it is continuing its campaign against the policy.

In a statement, the SoE said: “The Society of Editors, alongside other news organisations and representative groups, have previously called for the £137 fee to be scrapped on the basis that any fee for media attendance at conferences – regardless of the political party – sets a deeply concerning precedent in a democratic society.

“The Society continues to call on the party to scrap the fees in full or refund the accreditation fee for those who attend on the day.”

The Tories have said the move aims to “discourage over-accreditation by some media outlets”.